Page 109 of Chaotic Curse
“Like leverage,” he says.No apology.No shame.“Until I know who’s behind the gifts.Until I know who’s watching you.”
“Then you hire help,” I say.“Real help.You step back.You breathe.You don’t burn down the city.”
“I’m done waiting.Done being the good guy who everyone counts on to do the right thing.Where has that gotten me?Where has it gotten Eagle?”
I rest my forehead on the wheel.The leather smells like heat and old coffee.“Please, Hawk…”
“I can’t sit by and wait for someone to do worse to you, Daniela.I can’t.And I won’t.”
A car pulls past, stereo bass thumping.The mirror rattles.Sweat beads at my hairline even with the AC blowing.The day is too bright, the world too loud.
“What are you going to do with him?”I ask.“With Reyes?”
“Keep him where he is,” he says.“For now.He’ll talk.They always do.”
“They don’t.Not about what matters.”
“He’ll talk to me.”His tone is darker.
My chest tightens.I picture a barn.Dust in the slanted light.Rope biting skin.
I hate Reyes.I do.I hate what he did to me.But this…
This is a different wrong.He deserves it, but Hawk could get in serious trouble.And I can’t lose him.He’s a rancher.He doesn’t understand what kind of person Reyes is.The connections he has.He’s a criminal, and if he gets free, he’ll hunt Hawk down like an animal and make him suffer horrible things.
“You can’t keep him,” I say.
“I can.I will.Until I have what I need.”
“And if he never gives it?”
“Then I’ll find someone else who will.”
My eyes sting with tears.“This isn’t you.”
“This is exactly me.”
“No.”I shake my head, even though he can’t see.“Why didn’t you answer me sooner?I texted you before class started.You left me twisting all day.”
“Because I was working,” he says.“Because I knew you were safe at school, and I had things to do.”
A raw sound tears up my throat.I press my lips together to hold it back.“You should have told me about Jordan.”
“I knew what you’d say,” he says, bitterness lacing his words.“What you already said.”
“I would’ve said don’t.I would’ve said wait.”
“And I can’t,” he says.“I can’t wait while someone fucking ends your life, Dani.”
Rage flares in me.Then fear.Then grief.I don’t know which is bigger.
“I need you sane,” I whisper.“I need you here.Not in a prison cell.Not on the front page.Not—” My breath hitches.“Notgone.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“You can’t promise that.Not when you’re doing…”
A beat.“Do you want me to let him go?”
